Tasmania outlasted South Australia in another tight limited overs encounter between the two sides at Adelaide Oval, the Tigers winning by three runs in scenes reminiscent of the tied domestic final last season, a result that had given the Redbacks the trophy.

A tally of 9 for 221 had looked barely adequate for the visitors, but a penetrating spell by the off spinner Jason Krejza did major damage to SA's chase after the hosts had begun smartly via Phillip Hughes and Michael Klinger. The captain Johan Botha was out for a first-ball duck.

Dan Christian was left to hold the pursuit together with an innings of power and composure, but he fell narrowly short of the target when the last man Jake Haberfield could not get back in time to complete a second run with one ball still remaining.

The Tigers' fielding was a strong point of their defence, Mark Cosgrove taking a pair of sharp chances at slip from the bowling of the spinners.

They needed to be on their toes after a halting innings in the afternoon. No batsman passed 50 as several starts were wasted, Tim Paine notably run out after spending 41 balls over 19. Ricky Ponting went closest to a substantial score but on 47 pushed back a sharp return catch to Jake Haberfield, who held the chance on the second attempt.

Nathan Lyon and Botha both bowled neatly for SA, while the debutant Daniel Worrall caught the eye with his full length and outswing. Worrall's figures lost their lustre towards the end of the innings, as Krejza and Xavier Doherty cobbled vital late innings runs to build a total that ultimately proved beyond SA's reach.

While SA's effort was much improved on an abject defeat in the earlier Sheffield Shield match, they are now winless from three matches to start the season. The Tigers leave Adelaide with a perfect two wins from their visit.